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From: Sue Strauslin <br /> To: WPCtestimonv <br /> Subject: Bill 121&122 <br /> Date: Wednesday,April 3,2024 5:55:16 PM <br /> To: Windward Planning Commission April 3, 2024 <br /> 25 Aupuni Street <br /> Hilo, HI 96720 <br /> Re: April 4, 2024 Commission meeting <br /> Bill 122 PL-CCI-2024-000004 to repeals Bed and Breakfast <br /> Bill 121 PL-CCI-2024-000003 to add owner hosted STVR to new regulation and scrutiny <br /> From: Susan Strauslin <br /> 120 Woa Road, Hilo, HI 96720 <br /> 808-217-5442 <br /> sstrauslinna msn.com <br /> Issues with Bill 121 PL-CCI-2024-000003 to add owner hosted STVR to new regulation, reporting <br /> requirements and scrutiny <br /> 1. From my understanding, if Bill 122 passes, we will then have to register as an owner hosted <br /> STRV and go through a lengthy application process, even though we just went through the <br /> lengthy process to attain permission for our B&B. This will duplicate our upfront costs and <br /> time. <br /> 2. Increasing costs and regulation on owner hosted STRVs will be a burden to many owners. A <br /> vast majority of short term rentals are owned by locals. Most of these owners are over 50. <br /> Most of them own a single rental unit. These are local families who depend on this income to <br /> make ends meet. When they rent a room or an ohana or a tiny home to a visitor family, they <br /> spend that money locally. The profits stay here on the Island. As hundreds of local residents <br /> have made clear in their testimony, this bill will hurt them. It will reduce their income, <br /> increase their costs and in many cases it will shut them down entirely. <br /> 3. The process being proposed by the authors of this bill is a lengthy, arduous and cumbersome <br /> process. In fact, it is so cumbersome that many homeowners will be forced to hire a <br /> consultant to navigate it. <br /> 4. The foundations of this regulatory effort are flawed. The significant financial and logistical <br /> problems this bill creates far outweigh the benefits it seeks to create and it does nothing to <br /> address the affordable housing crisis here on the Big Island. <br /> 5. Unfair reporting requirements: It is fundamentally unfair to ask a homeowner to spend <br /> several hours a month generating tax documents and reports. If they only have 30 hours per <br /> month to run their operation, a 3 hour requirement is nearly 10%of their available time. <br /> Issues with Bill 122 PL-CCI-2024-000004 to repeals Bed and Breakfast <br /> 1. On January 4th 2024 we were approved to run a Bed and Breakfast on our 10 acre parcel with <br /> a residential house and farm in Pauka'a. We are just getting started and now you want to <br /> take that away. I don't understand why you would suggest this after just giving us the <br /> permission. I also see new applicants of B&B's on the agenda. What is the point of removing <br />